Les trois mousquetaires. English Page 7

  6 HIS MAJESTY KING LOUIS XIII

  This affair made a great noise. M. de Treville scolded his Musketeers inpublic, and congratulated them in private; but as no time was to be lostin gaining the king, M. de Treville hastened to report himself at theLouvre. It was already too late. The king was closeted with thecardinal, and M. de Treville was informed that the king was busy andcould not receive him at that moment. In the evening M. de Trevilleattended the king's gaming table. The king was winning; and as he wasvery avaricious, he was in an excellent humor. Perceiving M. de Trevilleat a distance--

  "Come here, Monsieur Captain," said he, "come here, that I may growl atyou. Do you know that his Eminence has been making fresh complaintsagainst your Musketeers, and that with so much emotion, that thisevening his Eminence is indisposed? Ah, these Musketeers of yours arevery devils--fellows to be hanged."

  "No, sire," replied Treville, who saw at the first glance how thingswould go, "on the contrary, they are good creatures, as meek as lambs,and have but one desire, I'll be their warranty. And that is that theirswords may never leave their scabbards but in your majesty's service.But what are they to do? The Guards of Monsieur the Cardinal are foreverseeking quarrels with them, and for the honor of the corps even, thepoor young men are obliged to defend themselves."

  "Listen to Monsieur de Treville," said the king; "listen to him! Wouldnot one say he was speaking of a religious community? In truth, my dearCaptain, I have a great mind to take away your commission and give it toMademoiselle de Chemerault, to whom I promised an abbey. But don't fancythat I am going to take you on your bare word. I am called Louis theJust, Monsieur de Treville, and by and by, by and by we will see."

  "Ah, sire; it is because I confide in that justice that I shall waitpatiently and quietly the good pleasure of your Majesty."

  "Wait, then, monsieur, wait," said the king; "I will not detain youlong."

  In fact, fortune changed; and as the king began to lose what he had won,he was not sorry to find an excuse for playing Charlemagne--if we mayuse a gaming phrase of whose origin we confess our ignorance. The kingtherefore arose a minute after, and putting the money which lay beforehim into his pocket, the major part of which arose from his winnings,"La Vieuville," said he, "take my place; I must speak to Monsieur deTreville on an affair of importance. Ah, I had eighty louis before me;put down the same sum, so that they who have lost may have nothing tocomplain of. Justice before everything."

  Then turning toward M. de Treville and walking with him toward theembrasure of a window, "Well, monsieur," continued he, "you say it ishis Eminence's Guards who have sought a quarrel with your Musketeers?"

  "Yes, sire, as they always do."

  "And how did the thing happen? Let us see, for you know, my dearCaptain, a judge must hear both sides."

  "Good Lord! In the most simple and natural manner possible. Three of mybest soldiers, whom your Majesty knows by name, and whose devotednessyou have more than once appreciated, and who have, I dare affirm to theking, his service much at heart--three of my best soldiers, I say,Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, had made a party of pleasure with a youngfellow from Gascony, whom I had introduced to them the same morning. Theparty was to take place at St. Germain, I believe, and they hadappointed to meet at the Carmes-Deschaux, when they were disturbed by deJussac, Cahusac, Bicarat, and two other Guardsmen, who certainly did notgo there in such a numerous company without some ill intention againstthe edicts."

  "Ah, ah! You incline me to think so," said the king. "There is no doubtthey went thither to fight themselves."

  "I do not accuse them, sire; but I leave your Majesty to judge what fivearmed men could possibly be going to do in such a deserted place as theneighborhood of the Convent des Carmes."

  "Yes, you are right, Treville, you are right!"

  "Then, upon seeing my Musketeers they changed their minds, and forgottheir private hatred for partisan hatred; for your Majesty cannot beignorant that the Musketeers, who belong to the king and nobody but theking, are the natural enemies of the Guardsmen, who belong to thecardinal."

  "Yes, Treville, yes," said the king, in a melancholy tone; "and it isvery sad, believe me, to see thus two parties in France, two heads toroyalty. But all this will come to an end, Treville, will come to anend. You say, then, that the Guardsmen sought a quarrel with theMusketeers?"

  "I say that it is probable that things have fallen out so, but I willnot swear to it, sire. You know how difficult it is to discover thetruth; and unless a man be endowed with that admirable instinct whichcauses Louis XIII to be named the Just--"

  "You are right, Treville; but they were not alone, your Musketeers. Theyhad a youth with them?"

  "Yes, sire, and one wounded man; so that three of the king'sMusketeers--one of whom was wounded--and a youth not only maintainedtheir ground against five of the most terrible of the cardinal'sGuardsmen, but absolutely brought four of them to earth."

  "Why, this is a victory!" cried the king, all radiant, "a completevictory!"

  "Yes, sire; as complete as that of the Bridge of Ce."

  "Four men, one of them wounded, and a youth, say you?"

  "One hardly a young man; but who, however, behaved himself so admirablyon this occasion that I will take the liberty of recommending him toyour Majesty."

  "How does he call himself?"

  "d'Artagnan, sire; he is the son of one of my oldest friends--the son ofa man who served under the king your father, of glorious memory, in thecivil war."

  "And you say this young man behaved himself well? Tell me how,Treville--you know how I delight in accounts of war and fighting."

  And Louis XIII twisted his mustache proudly, placing his hand upon hiship.

  "Sire," resumed Treville, "as I told you, Monsieur d'Artagnan is littlemore than a boy; and as he has not the honor of being a Musketeer, hewas dressed as a citizen. The Guards of the cardinal, perceiving hisyouth and that he did not belong to the corps, invited him to retirebefore they attacked."

  "So you may plainly see, Treville," interrupted the king, "it was theywho attacked?"

  "That is true, sire; there can be no more doubt on that head. Theycalled upon him then to retire; but he answered that he was a Musketeerat heart, entirely devoted to your Majesty, and that therefore he wouldremain with Messieurs the Musketeers."

  "Brave young man!" murmured the king.

  "Well, he did remain with them; and your Majesty has in him so firm achampion that it was he who gave Jussac the terrible sword thrust whichhas made the cardinal so angry."

  "He who wounded Jussac!" cried the king, "he, a boy! Treville, that'simpossible!"

  "It is as I have the honor to relate it to your Majesty."

  "Jussac, one of the first swordsmen in the kingdom?"

  "Well, sire, for once he found his master."

  "I will see this young man, Treville--I will see him; and if anythingcan be done--well, we will make it our business."

  "When will your Majesty deign to receive him?"

  "Tomorrow, at midday, Treville."

  "Shall I bring him alone?"

  "No, bring me all four together. I wish to thank them all at once.Devoted men are so rare, Treville, by the back staircase. It is uselessto let the cardinal know."

  "Yes, sire."

  "You understand, Treville--an edict is still an edict, it is forbiddento fight, after all."

  "But this encounter, sire, is quite out of the ordinary conditions of aduel. It is a brawl; and the proof is that there were five of thecardinal's Guardsmen against my three Musketeers and Monsieurd'Artagnan."

  "That is true," said the king; "but never mind, Treville, come still bythe back staircase."

  Treville smiled; but as it was indeed something to have prevailed uponthis child to rebel against his master, he saluted the kingrespectfully, and with this agreement, took leave of him.

  That evening the three Musketeers were informed of the honor accordedthem. As they had long been acquainted with the king, they were not muchexcited; but
d'Artagnan, with his Gascon imagination, saw in it hisfuture fortune, and passed the night in golden dreams. By eight o'clockin the morning he was at the apartment of Athos.

  D'Artagnan found the Musketeer dressed and ready to go out. As the hourto wait upon the king was not till twelve, he had made a party withPorthos and Aramis to play a game at tennis in a tennis court situatednear the stables of the Luxembourg. Athos invited d'Artagnan to followthem; and although ignorant of the game, which he had never played, heaccepted, not knowing what to do with his time from nine o'clock in themorning, as it then scarcely was, till twelve.

  The two Musketeers were already there, and were playing together. Athos,who was very expert in all bodily exercises, passed with d'Artagnan tothe opposite side and challenged them; but at the first effort he made,although he played with his left hand, he found that his wound was yettoo recent to allow of such exertion. D'Artagnan remained, therefore,alone; and as he declared he was too ignorant of the game to play itregularly they only continued giving balls to one another withoutcounting. But one of these balls, launched by Porthos' herculean hand,passed so close to d'Artagnan's face that he thought that if, instead ofpassing near, it had hit him, his audience would have been probablylost, as it would have been impossible for him to present himself beforethe king. Now, as upon this audience, in his Gascon imagination,depended his future life, he saluted Aramis and Porthos politely,declaring that he would not resume the game until he should be preparedto play with them on more equal terms, and went and took his place nearthe cord and in the gallery.

  Unfortunately for d'Artagnan, among the spectators was one of hisEminence's Guardsmen, who, still irritated by the defeat of hiscompanions, which had happened only the day before, had promised himselfto seize the first opportunity of avenging it. He believed thisopportunity was now come and addressed his neighbor: "It is notastonishing that that young man should be afraid of a ball, for he isdoubtless a Musketeer apprentice."

  D'Artagnan turned round as if a serpent had stung him, and fixed hiseyes intensely upon the Guardsman who had just made this insolentspeech.

  "PARDIEU," resumed the latter, twisting his mustache, "look at me aslong as you like, my little gentleman! I have said what I have said."

  "And as since that which you have said is too clear to require anyexplanation," replied d'Artagnan, in a low voice, "I beg you to followme."

  "And when?" asked the Guardsman, with the same jeering air.

  "At once, if you please."

  "And you know who I am, without doubt?"

  "I? I am completely ignorant; nor does it much disquiet me."

  "You're in the wrong there; for if you knew my name, perhaps you wouldnot be so pressing."

  "What is your name?"

  "Bernajoux, at your service."

  "Well, then, Monsieur Bernajoux," said d'Artagnan, tranquilly, "I willwait for you at the door."

  "Go, monsieur, I will follow you."

  "Do not hurry yourself, monsieur, lest it be observed that we go outtogether. You must be aware that for our undertaking, company would bein the way."

  "That's true," said the Guardsman, astonished that his name had notproduced more effect upon the young man.

  Indeed, the name of Bernajoux was known to all the world, d'Artagnanalone excepted, perhaps; for it was one of those which figured mostfrequently in the daily brawls which all the edicts of the cardinalcould not repress.

  Porthos and Aramis were so engaged with their game, and Athos waswatching them with so much attention, that they did not even perceivetheir young companion go out, who, as he had told the Guardsman of hisEminence, stopped outside the door. An instant after, the Guardsmandescended in his turn. As d'Artagnan had no time to lose, on account ofthe audience of the king, which was fixed for midday, he cast his eyesaround, and seeing that the street was empty, said to his adversary, "Myfaith! It is fortunate for you, although your name is Bernajoux, to haveonly to deal with an apprentice Musketeer. Never mind; be content, Iwill do my best. On guard!"

  "But," said he whom d'Artagnan thus provoked, "it appears to me thatthis place is badly chosen, and that we should be better behind theAbbey St. Germain or in the Pre-aux-Clercs."

  "What you say is full of sense," replied d'Artagnan; "but unfortunatelyI have very little time to spare, having an appointment at twelveprecisely. On guard, then, monsieur, on guard!"

  Bernajoux was not a man to have such a compliment paid to him twice. Inan instant his sword glittered in his hand, and he sprang upon hisadversary, whom, thanks to his great youthfulness, he hoped tointimidate.

  But d'Artagnan had on the preceding day served his apprenticeship. Freshsharpened by his victory, full of hopes of future favor, he was resolvednot to recoil a step. So the two swords were crossed close to the hilts,and as d'Artagnan stood firm, it was his adversary who made theretreating step; but d'Artagnan seized the moment at which, in thismovement, the sword of Bernajoux deviated from the line. He freed hisweapon, made a lunge, and touched his adversary on the shoulder.D'Artagnan immediately made a step backward and raised his sword; butBernajoux cried out that it was nothing, and rushing blindly upon him,absolutely spitted himself upon d'Artagnan's sword. As, however, he didnot fall, as he did not declare himself conquered, but only broke awaytoward the hotel of M. de la Tremouille, in whose service he had arelative, d'Artagnan was ignorant of the seriousness of the last woundhis adversary had received, and pressing him warmly, without doubt wouldsoon have completed his work with a third blow, when the noise whicharose from the street being heard in the tennis court, two of thefriends of the Guardsman, who had seen him go out after exchanging somewords with d'Artagnan, rushed, sword in hand, from the court, and fellupon the conqueror. But Athos, Porthos, and Aramis quickly appeared intheir turn, and the moment the two Guardsmen attacked their youngcompanion, drove them back. Bernajoux now fell, and as the Guardsmenwere only two against four, they began to cry, "To the rescue! The Hotelde la Tremouille!" At these cries, all who were in the hotel rushed outand fell upon the four companions, who on their side cried aloud, "Tothe rescue, Musketeers!"

  This cry was generally heeded; for the Musketeers were known to beenemies of the cardinal, and were beloved on account of the hatred theybore to his Eminence. Thus the soldiers of other companies than thosewhich belonged to the Red Duke, as Aramis had called him, often tookpart with the king's Musketeers in these quarrels. Of three Guardsmen ofthe company of M. Dessessart who were passing, two came to theassistance of the four companions, while the other ran toward the hotelof M. de Treville, crying, "To the rescue, Musketeers! To the rescue!"As usual, this hotel was full of soldiers of this company, who hastenedto the succor of their comrades. The MELEE became general, but strengthwas on the side of the Musketeers. The cardinal's Guards and M. de laTremouille's people retreated into the hotel, the doors of which theyclosed just in time to prevent their enemies from entering with them. Asto the wounded man, he had been taken in at once, and, as we have said,in a very bad state.

  Excitement was at its height among the Musketeers and their allies, andthey even began to deliberate whether they should not set fire to thehotel to punish the insolence of M. de la Tremouille's domestics indaring to make a SORTIE upon the king's Musketeers. The proposition hadbeen made, and received with enthusiasm, when fortunately eleven o'clockstruck. D'Artagnan and his companions remembered their audience, and asthey would very much have regretted that such an opportunity should belost, they succeeded in calming their friends, who contented themselveswith hurling some paving stones against the gates; but the gates weretoo strong. They soon tired of the sport. Besides, those who must beconsidered the leaders of the enterprise had quit the group and weremaking their way toward the hotel of M. de Treville, who was waiting forthem, already informed of this fresh disturbance.

  "Quick to the Louvre," said he, "to the Louvre without losing aninstant, and let us endeavor to see the king before he is prejudiced bythe cardinal. We will describe the thing to him as a consequence of theaffair of yes
terday, and the two will pass off together."

  M de Treville, accompanied by the four young fellows, directed hiscourse toward the Louvre; but to the great astonishment of the captainof the Musketeers, he was informed that the king had gone stag huntingin the forest of St. Germain. M. de Treville required this intelligenceto be repeated to him twice, and each time his companions saw his browbecome darker.

  "Had his Majesty," asked he, "any intention of holding this huntingparty yesterday?"

  "No, your Excellency," replied the valet de chambre, "the Master of theHounds came this morning to inform him that he had marked down a stag.At first the king answered that he would not go; but he could not resisthis love of sport, and set out after dinner."

  "And the king has seen the cardinal?" asked M. de Treville.

  "In all probability he has," replied the valet, "for I saw the horsesharnessed to his Eminence's carriage this morning, and when I askedwhere he was going, they told me, 'To St. Germain.'"

  "He is beforehand with us," said M. de Treville. "Gentlemen, I will seethe king this evening; but as to you, I do not advise you to risk doingso."

  This advice was too reasonable, and moreover came from a man who knewthe king too well, to allow the four young men to dispute it. M. deTreville recommended everyone to return home and wait for news.

  On entering his hotel, M. de Treville thought it best to be first inmaking the complaint. He sent one of his servants to M. de la Tremouillewith a letter in which he begged of him to eject the cardinal'sGuardsmen from his house, and to reprimand his people for their audacityin making SORTIE against the king's Musketeers. But M. de laTremouille--already prejudiced by his esquire, whose relative, as wealready know, Bernajoux was--replied that it was neither for M. deTreville nor the Musketeers to complain, but, on the contrary, for him,whose people the Musketeers had assaulted and whose hotel they hadendeavored to burn. Now, as the debate between these two nobles mightlast a long time, each becoming, naturally, more firm in his ownopinion, M. de Treville thought of an expedient which might terminate itquietly. This was to go himself to M. de la Tremouille.

  He repaired, therefore, immediately to his hotel, and caused himself tobe announced.

  The two nobles saluted each other politely, for if no friendship existedbetween them, there was at least esteem. Both were men of courage andhonor; and as M. de la Tremouille--a Protestant, and seeing the kingseldom--was of no party, he did not, in general, carry any bias into hissocial relations. This time, however, his address, although polite, wascooler than usual.

  "Monsieur," said M. de Treville, "we fancy that we have each cause tocomplain of the other, and I am come to endeavor to clear up thisaffair."

  "I have no objection," replied M. de la Tremouille, "but I warn you thatI am well informed, and all the fault is with your Musketeers."

  "You are too just and reasonable a man, monsieur!" said Treville, "notto accept the proposal I am about to make to you."

  "Make it, monsieur, I listen."

  "How is Monsieur Bernajoux, your esquire's relative?"

  "Why, monsieur, very ill indeed! In addition to the sword thrust in hisarm, which is not dangerous, he has received another right through hislungs, of which the doctor says bad things."

  "But has the wounded man retained his senses?"

  "Perfectly."

  "Does he talk?"

  "With difficulty, but he can speak."

  "Well, monsieur, let us go to him. Let us adjure him, in the name of theGod before whom he must perhaps appear, to speak the truth. I will takehim for judge in his own cause, monsieur, and will believe what he willsay."

  M de la Tremouille reflected for an instant; then as it was difficult tosuggest a more reasonable proposal, he agreed to it.

  Both descended to the chamber in which the wounded man lay. The latter,on seeing these two noble lords who came to visit him, endeavored toraise himself up in his bed; but he was too weak, and exhausted by theeffort, he fell back again almost senseless.

  M de la Tremouille approached him, and made him inhale some salts, whichrecalled him to life. Then M. de Treville, unwilling that it should bethought that he had influenced the wounded man, requested M. de laTremouille to interrogate him himself.

  That happened which M. de Treville had foreseen. Placed between life anddeath, as Bernajoux was, he had no idea for a moment of concealing thetruth; and he described to the two nobles the affair exactly as it hadpassed.

  This was all that M. de Treville wanted. He wished Bernajoux a speedyconvalescence, took leave of M. de la Tremouille, returned to his hotel,and immediately sent word to the four friends that he awaited theircompany at dinner.

  M de Treville entertained good company, wholly anticardinalist, though.It may easily be understood, therefore, that the conversation during thewhole of dinner turned upon the two checks that his Eminence's Guardsmenhad received. Now, as d'Artagnan had been the hero of these two fights,it was upon him that all the felicitations fell, which Athos, Porthos,and Aramis abandoned to him, not only as good comrades, but as men whohad so often had their turn that they could very well afford him his.

  Toward six o'clock M. de Treville announced that it was time to go tothe Louvre; but as the hour of audience granted by his Majesty was past,instead of claiming the ENTREE by the back stairs, he placed himselfwith the four young men in the antechamber. The king had not yetreturned from hunting. Our young men had been waiting about half anhour, amid a crowd of courtiers, when all the doors were thrown open,and his Majesty was announced.

  At his announcement d'Artagnan felt himself tremble to the very marrowof his bones. The coming instant would in all probability decide therest of his life. His eyes therefore were fixed in a sort of agony uponthe door through which the king must enter.

  Louis XIII appeared, walking fast. He was in hunting costume coveredwith dust, wearing large boots, and holding a whip in his hand. At thefirst glance, d'Artagnan judged that the mind of the king was stormy.

  This disposition, visible as it was in his Majesty, did not prevent thecourtiers from ranging themselves along his pathway. In royalantechambers it is worth more to be viewed with an angry eye than not tobe seen at all. The three Musketeers therefore did not hesitate to makea step forward. D'Artagnan on the contrary remained concealed behindthem; but although the king knew Athos, Porthos, and Aramis personally,he passed before them without speaking or looking--indeed, as if he hadnever seen them before. As for M. de Treville, when the eyes of the kingfell upon him, he sustained the look with so much firmness that it wasthe king who dropped his eyes; after which his Majesty, grumbling,entered his apartment.

  "Matters go but badly," said Athos, smiling; "and we shall not be madeChevaliers of the Order this time."

  "Wait here ten minutes," said M. de Treville; "and if at the expirationof ten minutes you do not see me come out, return to my hotel, for itwill be useless for you to wait for me longer."

  The four young men waited ten minutes, a quarter of an hour, twentyminutes; and seeing that M. de Treville did not return, went away veryuneasy as to what was going to happen.

  M de Treville entered the king's cabinet boldly, and found his Majestyin a very ill humor, seated on an armchair, beating his boot with thehandle of his whip. This, however, did not prevent his asking, with thegreatest coolness, after his Majesty's health.

  "Bad, monsieur, bad!" replied the king; "I am bored."

  This was, in fact, the worst complaint of Louis XIII, who wouldsometimes take one of his courtiers to a window and say, "MonsieurSo-and-so, let us weary ourselves together."

  "How! Your Majesty is bored? Have you not enjoyed the pleasures of thechase today?"

  "A fine pleasure, indeed, monsieur! Upon my soul, everythingdegenerates; and I don't know whether it is the game which leaves noscent, or the dogs that have no noses. We started a stag of tenbranches. We chased him for six hours, and when he was near beingtaken--when St.-Simon was already putting his horn to his mouth to soundthe mort--crack, all the pack ta
kes the wrong scent and sets off after atwo-year-older. I shall be obliged to give up hunting, as I have givenup hawking. Ah, I am an unfortunate king, Monsieur de Treville! I hadbut one gerfalcon, and he died day before yesterday."

  "Indeed, sire, I wholly comprehend your disappointment. The misfortuneis great; but I think you have still a good number of falcons, sparrowhawks, and tiercels."

  "And not a man to instruct them. Falconers are declining. I know no onebut myself who is acquainted with the noble art of venery. After me itwill all be over, and people will hunt with gins, snares, and traps. IfI had but the time to train pupils! But there is the cardinal always athand, who does not leave me a moment's repose; who talks to me aboutSpain, who talks to me about Austria, who talks to me about England! Ah!A PROPOS of the cardinal, Monsieur de Treville, I am vexed with you!"

  This was the chance at which M. de Treville waited for the king. He knewthe king of old, and he knew that all these complaints were but apreface--a sort of excitation to encourage himself--and that he had nowcome to his point at last.

  "And in what have I been so unfortunate as to displease your Majesty?"asked M. de Treville, feigning the most profound astonishment.

  "Is it thus you perform your charge, monsieur?" continued the king,without directly replying to de Treville's question. "Is it for this Iname you captain of my Musketeers, that they should assassinate a man,disturb a whole quarter, and endeavor to set fire to Paris, without yoursaying a word? But yet," continued the king, "undoubtedly my hasteaccuses you wrongfully; without doubt the rioters are in prison, and youcome to tell me justice is done."

  "Sire," replied M. de Treville, calmly, "on the contrary, I come todemand it of you."

  "And against whom?" cried the king.

  "Against calumniators," said M. de Treville.

  "Ah! This is something new," replied the king. "Will you tell me thatyour three damned Musketeers, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, and youryoungster from Bearn, have not fallen, like so many furies, upon poorBernajoux, and have not maltreated him in such a fashion that probablyby this time he is dead? Will you tell me that they did not lay siege tothe hotel of the Duc de la Tremouille, and that they did not endeavor toburn it?--which would not, perhaps, have been a great misfortune in timeof war, seeing that it is nothing but a nest of Huguenots, but which is,in time of peace, a frightful example. Tell me, now, can you deny allthis?"

  "And who told you this fine story, sire?" asked Treville, quietly.

  "Who has told me this fine story, monsieur? Who should it be but he whowatches while I sleep, who labors while I amuse myself, who conductseverything at home and abroad--in France as in Europe?"

  "Your Majesty probably refers to God," said M. de Treville; "for I knowno one except God who can be so far above your Majesty."

  "No, monsieur; I speak of the prop of the state, of my only servant, ofmy only friend--of the cardinal."

  "His Eminence is not his holiness, sire."

  "What do you mean by that, monsieur?"

  "That it is only the Pope who is infallible, and that this infallibilitydoes not extend to cardinals."

  "You mean to say that he deceives me; you mean to say that he betraysme? You accuse him, then? Come, speak; avow freely that you accuse him!"

  "No, sire, but I say that he deceives himself. I say that he isill-informed. I say that he has hastily accused your Majesty'sMusketeers, toward whom he is unjust, and that he has not obtained hisinformation from good sources."

  "The accusation comes from Monsieur de la Tremouille, from the dukehimself. What do you say to that?"

  "I might answer, sire, that he is too deeply interested in the questionto be a very impartial witness; but so far from that, sire, I know theduke to be a royal gentleman, and I refer the matter to him--but uponone condition, sire."

  "What?"

  "It is that your Majesty will make him come here, will interrogate himyourself, TETE-A-TETE, without witnesses, and that I shall see yourMajesty as soon as you have seen the duke."

  "What, then! You will bind yourself," cried the king, "by what Monsieurde la Tremouille shall say?"

  "Yes, sire."

  "You will accept his judgment?"

  "Undoubtedly."

  "And you will submit to the reparation he may require?"

  "Certainly."

  "La Chesnaye," said the king. "La Chesnaye!"

  Louis XIII's confidential valet, who never left the door, entered inreply to the call.

  "La Chesnaye," said the king, "let someone go instantly and findMonsieur de la Tremouille; I wish to speak with him this evening."

  "Your Majesty gives me your word that you will not see anyone betweenMonsieur de la Tremouille and myself?"

  "Nobody, by the faith of a gentleman."

  "Tomorrow, then, sire?"

  "Tomorrow, monsieur."

  "At what o'clock, please your Majesty?"

  "At any hour you will."

  "But in coming too early I should be afraid of awakening your Majesty."

  "Awaken me! Do you think I ever sleep, then? I sleep no longer,monsieur. I sometimes dream, that's all. Come, then, as early as youlike--at seven o'clock; but beware, if you and your Musketeers areguilty."

  "If my Musketeers are guilty, sire, the guilty shall be placed in yourMajesty's hands, who will dispose of them at your good pleasure. Doesyour Majesty require anything further? Speak, I am ready to obey."

  "No, monsieur, no; I am not called Louis the Just without reason.Tomorrow, then, monsieur--tomorrow."

  "Till then, God preserve your Majesty!"

  However ill the king might sleep, M. de Treville slept still worse. Hehad ordered his three Musketeers and their companion to be with him athalf past six in the morning. He took them with him, without encouragingthem or promising them anything, and without concealing from them thattheir luck, and even his own, depended upon the cast of the dice.

  Arrived at the foot of the back stairs, he desired them to wait. If theking was still irritated against them, they would depart without beingseen; if the king consented to see them, they would only have to becalled.

  On arriving at the king's private antechamber, M. de Treville found LaChesnaye, who informed him that they had not been able to find M. de laTremouille on the preceding evening at his hotel, that he returned toolate to present himself at the Louvre, that he had only that momentarrived and that he was at that very hour with the king.

  This circumstance pleased M. de Treville much, as he thus became certainthat no foreign suggestion could insinuate itself between M. de laTremouille's testimony and himself.

  In fact, ten minutes had scarcely passed away when the door of theking's closet opened, and M. de Treville saw M. de la Tremouille comeout. The duke came straight up to him, and said: "Monsieur de Treville,his Majesty has just sent for me in order to inquire respecting thecircumstances which took place yesterday at my hotel. I have told himthe truth; that is to say, that the fault lay with my people, and that Iwas ready to offer you my excuses. Since I have the good fortune to meetyou, I beg you to receive them, and to hold me always as one of yourfriends."

  "Monsieur the Duke," said M. de Treville, "I was so confident of yourloyalty that I required no other defender before his Majesty thanyourself. I find that I have not been mistaken, and I thank you thatthere is still one man in France of whom may be said, withoutdisappointment, what I have said of you."

  "That's well said," cried the king, who had heard all these complimentsthrough the open door; "only tell him, Treville, since he wishes to beconsidered your friend, that I also wish to be one of his, but heneglects me; that it is nearly three years since I have seen him, andthat I never do see him unless I send for him. Tell him all this for me,for these are things which a king cannot say for himself."

  "Thanks, sire, thanks," said the duke; "but your Majesty may be assuredthat it is not those--I do not speak of Monsieur de Treville--whom yourMajesty sees at all hours of the day that are most devoted to you."

  "Ah! You have he
ard what I said? So much the better, Duke, so much thebetter," said the king, advancing toward the door. "Ah! It is you,Treville. Where are your Musketeers? I told you the day before yesterdayto bring them with you; why have you not done so?"

  "They are below, sire, and with your permission La Chesnaye will bidthem come up."

  "Yes, yes, let them come up immediately. It is nearly eight o'clock, andat nine I expect a visit. Go, Monsieur Duke, and return often. Come in,Treville."

  The Duke saluted and retired. At the moment he opened the door, thethree Musketeers and d'Artagnan, conducted by La Chesnaye, appeared atthe top of the staircase.

  "Come in, my braves," said the king, "come in; I am going to scold you."

  The Musketeers advanced, bowing, d'Artagnan following closely behindthem.

  "What the devil!" continued the king. "Seven of his Eminence's Guardsplaced HORS DE COMBAT by you four in two days! That's too many,gentlemen, too many! If you go on so, his Eminence will be forced torenew his company in three weeks, and I to put the edicts in force inall their rigor. One now and then I don't say much about; but seven intwo days, I repeat, it is too many, it is far too many!"

  "Therefore, sire, your Majesty sees that they are come, quite contriteand repentant, to offer you their excuses."

  "Quite contrite and repentant! Hem!" said the king. "I place noconfidence in their hypocritical faces. In particular, there is oneyonder of a Gascon look. Come hither, monsieur."

  D'Artagnan, who understood that it was to him this compliment wasaddressed, approached, assuming a most deprecating air.

  "Why, you told me he was a young man? This is a boy, Treville, a mereboy! Do you mean to say that it was he who bestowed that severe thrustat Jussac?"

  "And those two equally fine thrusts at Bernajoux."

  "Truly!"

  "Without reckoning," said Athos, "that if he had not rescued me from thehands of Cahusac, I should not now have the honor of making my veryhumble reverence to your Majesty."

  "Why he is a very devil, this Bearnais! VENTRE-SAINT-GRIS, Monsieur deTreville, as the king my father would have said. But at this sort ofwork, many doublets must be slashed and many swords broken. Now, Gasconsare always poor, are they not?"

  "Sire, I can assert that they have hitherto discovered no gold mines intheir mountains; though the Lord owes them this miracle in recompensefor the manner in which they supported the pretensions of the king yourfather."

  "Which is to say that the Gascons made a king of me, myself, seeing thatI am my father's son, is it not, Treville? Well, happily, I don't saynay to it. La Chesnaye, go and see if by rummaging all my pockets youcan find forty pistoles; and if you can find them, bring them to me. Andnow let us see, young man, with your hand upon your conscience, how didall this come to pass?"

  D'Artagnan related the adventure of the preceding day in all itsdetails; how, not having been able to sleep for the joy he felt in theexpectation of seeing his Majesty, he had gone to his three friendsthree hours before the hour of audience; how they had gone together tothe tennis court, and how, upon the fear he had manifested lest hereceive a ball in the face, he had been jeered at by Bernajoux, who hadnearly paid for his jeer with his life, and M. de la Tremouille, who hadnothing to do with the matter, with the loss of his hotel.

  "This is all very well," murmured the king, "yes, this is just theaccount the duke gave me of the affair. Poor cardinal! Seven men in twodays, and those of his very best! But that's quite enough, gentlemen;please to understand, that's enough. You have taken your revenge for theRue Ferou, and even exceeded it; you ought to be satisfied."

  "If your Majesty is so," said Treville, "we are."

  "Oh, yes; I am," added the king, taking a handful of gold from LaChesnaye, and putting it into the hand of d'Artagnan. "Here," said he,"is a proof of my satisfaction."

  At this epoch, the ideas of pride which are in fashion in our days didnot prevail. A gentleman received, from hand to hand, money from theking, and was not the least in the world humiliated. D'Artagnan put hisforty pistoles into his pocket without any scruple--on the contrary,thanking his Majesty greatly.

  "There," said the king, looking at a clock, "there, now, as it is halfpast eight, you may retire; for as I told you, I expect someone at nine.Thanks for your devotedness, gentlemen. I may continue to rely upon it,may I not?"

  "Oh, sire!" cried the four companions, with one voice, "we would allowourselves to be cut to pieces in your Majesty's service."

  "Well, well, but keep whole; that will be better, and you will be moreuseful to me. Treville," added the king, in a low voice, as the otherswere retiring, "as you have no room in the Musketeers, and as we havebesides decided that a novitiate is necessary before entering thatcorps, place this young man in the company of the Guards of MonsieurDessessart, your brother-in-law. Ah, PARDIEU, Treville! I enjoybeforehand the face the cardinal will make. He will be furious; but Idon't care. I am doing what is right."

  The king waved his hand to Treville, who left him and rejoined theMusketeers, whom he found sharing the forty pistoles with d'Artagnan.

  The cardinal, as his Majesty had said, was really furious, so furiousthat during eight days he absented himself from the king's gaming table.This did not prevent the king from being as complacent to him aspossible whenever he met him, or from asking in the kindest tone, "Well,Monsieur Cardinal, how fares it with that poor Jussac and that poorBernajoux of yours?"